'Manu' misses World Cup as Spurs deny permission

San Antonio Spurs'' Emanuel Ginóbili is pictured during an NBA match (file photo).

Argentina’s national team will be playing Spain’s World Cup without Emanuel "Manu" Ginóbili as San Antonio Spurs denied permission to the Argentine guard based on a FIBA-NBA clause that restricts players participation in tournaments in case of a "reasonable medical concern."

The Argentine Confederation of Basketball (CABB) today released a statement confirming the news:

“Manu Ginóbili will not play the Spain World Cup since San Antonio Spurs did not authorize him applying the clause of the FIBA/NBA agreement about ‘Limitations and other requirements about the participation of NBA players in their national teams,’ the text reads adding that ‘NBA players are not authorized to take part along with their national teams (in tournaments) when there is a reasonable medical concern” that could indicate the player can be put to face a “physical risk.”